E-Hawks Persevere In Marathon District Semi-Final

July 17, 2014

ESTHERVILLE - It took 12 innings, four pitchers, 104 at-bats and three hours and 15 minutes before an RBI?single from senior Aaron Bird gave Emmetsburg a 9-8 victory over Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn in a Class 2A District Semi-final tournament game Tuesday night. The win moves the E-Hawks into the District Championship game Saturday night at Estherville against Estherville Lincoln Central at 7 p.m.

The contest started with Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn getting a leadoff single, but a line shot to shortstop Luke Jackson was quickly fired to Joe Jackson at first base to pick off the runner who had led off for a bang-bang double play out. But HMS would come back with a base hit and a double that would score one run, but a single and an error on the throw would bring a second run over the plate before the Hawks were retired.

In the bottom of the first, the E-Hawks would go down in order to trail 2-0 at the end of the first inning. But in the top of the second, HMS?would be retired in order to bring Emmetsburg back up to bat.

Article Photos

DOUBLE?PLAY - E-Hawk first baseman Joe Jackson waits for the throw from pitcher Dillon VanOosbree to complete a double play in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s District semi-final game with Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn. Emmetsburg would turn two double plays in the game on their way to the 9-8 win in 12 innings. -- Dan Voigt photo

FRAME?IT! - Emmetsburg catcher Zach Anderson frames a pitch for umpire Brian Rodemeyer to see during action in Tuesday’s Class 2A District Semi-Final game against Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn at Estherville. The E-Hawks would win the nail-biting game by a 9-8 score with a four-run rally in the bottom of the 12th inning. -- Dan Voigt photo

Greg Wesley led off the second with a base hit and worked his way around the bases after Wes Schultes delivered a single and Jacob Kibbie drew a walk to load the sacks. Joe Jackson would rip a double to right center that would score Wesley and Schultes. But with two outs, a fielders' choice by Dillon VanOosbree would put Jackson out at third to end the inning.

With the score evened up at 2-2 to start the third inning, the Hawks of HMS?would get a base hit, but a fielders' choice would end up leaving a runner stranded. Emmetsburg would come up in the bottom half of the inning and lead off with Aaron Bird drawing a walk. Luke Jackson would get on off a fielders' choice but was put out as he tried to sake second base off the play. Greg Wesley would rap out his second base hit and would move to second, but the two E-Hawks would be left waiting when the inning ended.

HMS?would get a leadoff single to start the fourth inning, but the E-Hawks would turn their second double play of the game when the next batter hit a short fly to pitcher Dillon VanOosbree, who wheeled and fired to Joe Jackson at first for the put outs.

The Hawks would get a base hit, but left that runner waiting to end their opportunity.

Emmetsburg would go down an out, then get a walk of Joe Jackson, only to leave him waiting at second when the inning ended.

In the fifth inning, a quick strikeout was followed by a second strikeout, but an error allowed the runner to get to first base and an error on the next at-bat put runners at first and second. However, Dillon VanOosbree would strike out the next two batters to end the at-bat, statistically tallying four strikeouts in the inning.

The E-Hawks came up in the bottom of the fifth and got a leadoff single from Aaron Bird and a walk from Luke Jackson. A fly ball out followed, before an error on Zach Anderson's at-bat allowed Bird to score his run and a single from Wes Schultes would bring Luke Jackson over the plate, but courtesy runner Cole Jackson and Schultes were left waiting when the inning ended with Emmetsburg now holding their first lead of the game, 4-2.

In the top of the sixth, HMS?would be retired in order and Emmetsburg would get a single from Dillon VanOosbree with one out, but a fielders' choice on Aaron Bird's at-bat put VanOosbree out and left Bird at third base when the inning ended.

To start the seventh, HMS?got a leadoff single and followed it with a strikeout. But the Hawks would then reel off three singles and a double to push three runs over the plate to re-take the lead before being retired with two runners still on base.

Now trailing by a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, Emmetsburg was in a spot. Greg Wesley flew out and Zach Anderson was put out, but Wes Schultes got on base off an error at second base and took second on a passed ball. a single by Jacob Kibbie would turn into an RBI?single as Schultes beat out a throw home to tie the game at 5-5 before the inning ended.

Moving into the eighth frame, HMS?would get a single with two outs, but left their runner stranded, while Emmetsburg would go down in order.

The ninth inning saw the Hawks got down two outs before getting a single, only to leave that baserunner stranded. In the bottom of the ninth, Emmetsburg would get a walk of Zach Anderson with two out, but couldn't do anything with the runner to send the game to the tenth inning.

Both clubs had to bring new pitchers to the hill to start the tenth, and with Greg Wesley now pitching, the E-Hawks sent HMS?down in order, but suffered a similar fate in their half of the inning.

HMS?got a walk in the top of the 11th, but left the runner stranded. The E-Hawks would go down in order to send the game to the 12th frame.

A leadoff walk would be followed by an out for HMS, but an error would allow a run to score before a second out was tallied. The Hawks would then get a single that allowed a second run to score, before a walk was issued. A second single would allow the third run to score before Emmetsburg's defense made the stop, but HMS?was feeling pretty secure with an 8-5 lead.

But Emmetsburg wasn't ready to concede anything.

Greg Wesley led off with a single to center field and Zach Anderson was walked, but the pair advanced when a balk was called on HMS?pitcher Jordan Japenga. An error on Wes Schultes' at-bat allowed Wesley to score his run before Jacob Kibbie was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Joe Jackson would rap out a base hit to score Zach Anderson for an 8-7 score before Max Dunlap struck out for the first out of the inning after a pitching change by HMS. With the bags still juiced, a sacrifice by Dillon VanOosbree would allow Schultes to score his run to tie the game at 8-8 with two outs.

Aaron Bird stepped up to the plate and sent the ball deep into right field as Jacob Kibbie raced for home and crossed the plate for the game-winning run as the E-Hawks broke into celebration to end the 3:15 marathon nail-biter.

Greg Wesley would get the win in relief, as he pitched three innings and gave up three runs off two hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Dillon VanOosbree went nine innings on the hill, giving up five runs, all earned, off 14 hits with nine strikeouts.

Emmetsburg's Joe Jackson had a double and single, while Wes Schultes had three singles on the night. Aaron Bird and Greg Wesley both had two singles each in the game, while Dillon VanOosbree and Jacob Kibbie both came away with a hit each in the win.

For HMS, Casey Dorhout was charged with the loss, as he pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up one hit with one strikeout. Jordan Japenga pitched two innings and surrendered four runs, all earned, off three hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Ryan Flynn pitched nine innings and gave up five runs, four earned, off seven hits with four walks and eight strikeouts in the effort.